Golf ResortsDuring the past 15 years, the golf resort business has been flourishing with more competitive top resorts that offer complete packages for golf enthusiastic. All these resorts feature greatly expanded spas and wider choices in fine dining too.According to Golf Digest's latest ratings, Sea Island takes top honors, while Pebble Beach has been knocked out of first place, shifting into third. Oregon's Bandon Dunes holds on to its 2nd place and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (featuring a seaside Jack Nicklaus design) moves up from 7th place (in previous rankings) to take over the 4th place spot. The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin is being placed with fifth. Sea Island, The Cloister and The Lodge: The resort is situated on a five mile long private Island on the Georgia's coast and sits half way between Jacksonville, Florida and Savannah, Georgia. A large sum of money has been invested in Cloisters Resort which was built in 1928 in the classic Mediterranean style. In 1999, the Seaside Course was re-furbished. Sea Island has been a favorite of George Bush who held the 2004 G8 summit there. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: This features three links style courses where players walk the rugged terrain high above the Oregon shores to experience the game of golf. Rooms are available from lodge singles to loft suites. The new Grove Cottages are designed to accommodate a foursome with four private rooms and shared patio/lounge areas. Pebble Beach Resorts: Pebble's Spyglass Hill course has just added 100 yards and hundred more trees, with 13 holes snaking through the woods and five on the ocean dunes making it a more varied, challenging track. This Golf Links is the best known and loved public course. The lodge is set directly on 17 mile drive and if you are a first time visitor you will be thrilled by its ocean vistas and the morning fog. There is a Spa as well as Food and Wine packages available at this lodge. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai: All resort rooms feature a 42 inch plasma television for watching the golf channel. Though Hualalai has wide fairways, the Kona trade winds will determine how well the player scores. The magnetic pull of the ocean will challenge the putter too. Phil Mickelson will not start his season here for this reason. There are excellent facilities and services available at this very exclusive course. Every room has a private patio and ocean views of the island, Hawaii. The American Club: The four famous courses include whistling straits. The newly expanded Kohler Waters Spa, has secured The American Club's number five spot. Compared to above resorts The American Club is a good deal for Golf lovers. |